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August Update

Please take a moment to read through the information below for important HR news and information. As always, you may contact your HR Service Center Representative with questions. You may also contact your Employee Ombudsperson, Cathy Thomas, at 8-3967 or thomasce@jmu.edu.

HR Benefits Team Welcomes Nicole “Nikki” Corley

We welcome Nikki Corley and the benefits administration experience she brings to her new role as HR benefits assistant. Some of Nikki’s responsibilities include answering the telephone, greeting visitors, completing employment verifications, processing PARs and providing excellent customer service.

Update! PAR Reviewers in HR

Questions related to PAR forms should now be directed to Michelle Chase or Nikki Corley. They review PARs in HR before sending them to Payroll. The division of PARs is based on the first letter of the last name of the employee listed on the PAR form.

PARs with employee last names beginning with A – M: 
Michelle Chase, 8-3825, chasepm@jmu.edu

PARs with employee last names beginning with N – Z: 
Nikki Corley, 8-2808, corleyna@jmu.edu

Leave Requests through J-Ess Replace Most Leave Cards

Thanks and congratulations to Patrick Morrisette, PC Services, for being the first employee to submit a request for leave through J-Ess! Patrick is the lucky recipient of a gift certificate presented by Yohna Chambers, HR Director; Krystal Smith, Leave Coordinator; and Richard Testa, Patrick’s supervisor.

Beginning August 2, all requests for the following leave types must be entered through J-Ess: vacation, sick, sick family, personal day, community service, family/personal, overtime leave taken, compensatory leave taken and recognition leave. HR continues to accept leave cards for other leave types not listed above since these require supporting documentation.

Please visit J-Ess FAQs and Tutorials for training tips. For more information, contact Krystal Smith at 8-3974 or smithkf@jmu.edu.

Onboard @ JMU

Please remember to submit an Onboard Form for all newly hired and re-hired employees at JMU, including JMU students working in non-student positions, before the employee begins working. Rehired employees may not require a full onboard session. The Onboard form gives HR the opportunity to review the required paperwork of rehired employees and assess which, if any, forms need to be completed prior to the employee resuming work.

Six Performance Management Reminders

  • A&P Faculty Performance Evaluations are to be completed by 8/31/10. These are retained in departmental files.
  • Annual Performance Evaluations for non-probationary, classified employees are due in HR by the last workday in September, 9/30/10.
  • Notifications of Extraordinary Contribution for classified employees are due in HR by the first workday in September, 9/01/10. This is also the deadline for submitting Notifications of Improvement Needed.
  • The Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) for non-probationary, classified employees is due in HR by the last workday in September, 9/30/10 along with the completed annual performance evaluation.
  • Classified employees must be given the opportunity for self-assessment.
  • Contact an HR Service Center Representative for performance management assistance.

JMU Policy 1307 Performance Evaluation of Administrative & Professional Faculty
JMU Policy 1305 Performance Evaluation for Classified Staff
Performance Evaluation Process

Test Your Knowledge

Question: Classified employee performance evaluations should be signed in what order?

  1. Employee, supervisor, reviewer
  2. Supervisor, employee, reviewer
  3. Supervisor, reviewer, employee
  4. It doesn’t matter as long as there are three signatures

Answer: 3 In accordance with JMU Policy 1305 Performance Evaluation for Classified Staff, the reviewer is responsible for reviewing the performance plan and evaluation before it is presented to the employee and providing the supervisor with appropriate feedback. If the reviewer does not agree with the performance plan and/or evaluation, the reviewer should discuss the areas of concern with the supervisor. Reviewers have the authority to change any part of the performance plan and/or evaluation based on their judgment about the employee’s performance or the supervisory approach to the performance evaluation. The classified employee should be the last person to review and sign their performance evaluation.

Promoting Positivity

"I make a point every morning to stop by each person’s work area to greet them and take a few moments to listen to what may be on their mind. Sometimes it’s a question pertaining to a project, sometimes it’s a request for something, sometimes it’s just to talk about the weather. It really doesn’t matter what we talk about. I just want my employees to know I care for and about them.”

Free Staff/Faculty Training Sessions Offered by Training and Development

August 19: Performance Management Information Sessions for Supervisors of Classified Employees
August 19: Performance Evaluation Information Sessions for Supervisors of A & P Faculty 
August 20: Professional Book Club: The Myth of Multitasking
August 20: Building Coordinators Handbook 
August 31: DiSC I: Assessment & Introduction

September   1: Performance Management Information Sessions for Supervisors of Classified Employees
September   2: The Planning Database, Copy & Card Services and the Computer Loan Program
September   8: EveryONE Makes a Difference: Difficult Customers 
September   9: Individual Professional Development Plan Workshop 
September   9: DiSC II: Knowledge and Application
September 14: Stress Management: Normalizing Stress 
September 15: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Series (session 1 of 8) (Registration Closes 9/10/10)September 22: 4th Annual Safety Conference - Safety & You @ JMU

If your department would like customized sessions contact Suzanne Vance, Training Coordinator, at 8-4101 or vancesn@jmu.edu.